Nigeria acquires new warship from US

The Nigerian Navy and indeed the Federal Government have made a statement of intent in the fight against maritime crimes with the acquisition of a 146 capacity warship from the United States. The vessel arrived Lagos, Nigeria after five weeks and three stops in Trinidad and Tobago, Senegal and Ghana, the warship named NNS Okpabana – an Igala word for thunder.

In a colourful ceremony at the naval dockyard in Lagos to receive the warship into the country, the Chief of naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin, noted that the event was a good omen not just for the Nigerian Navy but also for the entire region saying that the Nigerian Navy has a huge responsibility to keep the maritime environment secure. He noted that “the addition of this ship into the NN fleet will certainly bolster our zeal to end the menace in our maritime domain and the region, as well as support the regional and global effort to eliminate transnational maritime threats.

“This nation has always requested the navy to do more and with this, the government recognises that there must be needed platform for the navy to do its job well. The present government headed by President Goodluck Jonathan took the recapitalisation of fleets as a huge challenge and has invested huge funds through the acquisition of two Off-Shore Patrol Vessels (OPV) from China and this one from USA. “It is hoped that by the time we take delivery of all, the NN will be better for it,’” the CNS said.

Speaking at the event, the US Consul General, Jeffrey Hawkins, said “many of the regions’ security challenges come from the sea, and this powerful new naval platform will enhance Nigeria’s ability to control the maritime environment. Okpabana is the first Nigerian vessel to have a Regional Maritime Awareness Capability (R-MAC) system on board.

“This system will link back to the NN wider R-Mack network and expand NN’s ability to track and identify vessels throughout the Gulf of Guinea,” Hawkins said.

Key officails of the Nigerian Navy, Army and Police as well as the American embassy and military officials were in attendance.